"Hallelujah!" Ed Sheeran is back and once again shocked us with a tear-jerker.
Originally, I wanted to write an article where I wrote little blurbs about each track on Ed Sheeran's new album "Divide." I thought it would be fun to match a series of emojis to describe my reactions and feelings toward each song. My brain, however, could not stop thinking about track 12 "Supermarket Flowers" and I decided I need to just focus on it because my mind can think of nothing else in the meantime.
I didn't know what any of the songs on his album were going to be about. I would not allow the internet to spoil anything for me. While I was waiting for the album to come out at midnight, my friends and I were reading the song titles aloud and guessing what they were going to be about. When we came across "Supermarket Flowers" I predicted it was either going to be a love song that melted our hearts or a song that would be extremely depressing. You cannot make predictions about Ed Sheeran because he will always find a way to surprise you. He never disappoints me.
I was so intrigued with the title that when the album was released, I jumped right to that song. I even broke my own rule. I've always listened to new albums in the order in which the artist placed the tracks because I believe they did so for a reason. I typically like to get the full experience of listening to an album all at once, but this was different. I knew that "Supermarket Flowers" was going to touch me in some way. I'm not sure why I felt that way, but I did.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It is now 3:31 P.M. on March 3 and I have had the album on repeat all day. Understandably, "Supermarket Flowers" continues to stick out to me. I was so crushed and confused when initially listening to it because I was internally debating on whether I thought Ed's mother had passed away (she didn't FYI). I started to assume many things about why he took off last year and it was destroying me because my heart was breaking for Ed and the situation he potentially was experiencing.
I turned to google to help me solve my investigation on the meaning of "Supermarket Flowers" and I discovered that Ed's mom is okay (thank goodness) and the song is in fact written from her perspective. There goes Ed being a lyrical genius once again.
In an interview with Zane Lowe via Apple Music, Ed admitted that he wasn't originally going to put the track on his album, but I am so happy he did. It was his family members who influenced his decision. Ed's grandmother passed away during the making of his album and his dad encouraged him to play the song at his grandmother's intimate funeral. Ed's grandfather then assured him that the track needed to be put on the album.
Before I go any further, I want to give my condolences and love to Ed's family. Love is both beautiful and devastating, but life goes on.
I'll admit, I've cried a few times while listening to the song. Then again while listening to Ed talk about the background story and then again while listening to the song over and over. We've all encountered death and Ed does a beautiful job at immortalizing the memory of a loved one through his lyrics.
What he does so well is encompass the memory of his grandmother for his family while allowing the entire world to adopt his words for the memory of their own loved ones. It is a heartwarming cycle.
The lyrics of "Supermarket Flowers" went straight to my heart because I, too, have lost my grandmother to an illness. I've lost my grandfather since then as well. Ed allowed me to revisit my memories of them in such a simplistic way and my heart is full.
Leave it to Ed to bring us all so many emotions through the magic of his music. It's good to have you back, pal.
